Claims
- 1. A multifunctional pellet aid comprising: (a) 20 to 80% by weight of one or more binders, wherein at least one binder is an acrylic based polymer having a Tg ranging from −20° C. to +95° C.; (b) 0 to 40 % by weight of one or more inorganic solids; and (c) 10 to 80 % by weight of one or more organic solids, wherein the particle size of the pellet aid ranges from 100 μm to 3000 μm and wherein 0.25 to 10% by weight of the pellet aid is added to a plurality of ingredients and compacted to form a pellet, the pellet having sufficient mechanical strength as a solid and rapidly disintegrating upon contact with an aqueous system.
- 2. The multifunctional pellet aid according to claim 1, wherein the binders are selected from the group consisting of acrylic based solution polymers, acrylic based suspension polymers, acrylic based emulsion polymers, saccharides, dextrose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, fructose, cyclodextrins, cyclodextrin derivatives, polysaccharides, starch, starch derivatives, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, carboxymethylcellulose, cellulose ethers, methyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, cross-linked cellulose derivatives, naturally occurring gums, tragacanth gum, gum arabic and combinations thereof, wherein the inorganic solids are selected from the group consisting of zeolites, clays, alkali metal silicates, alkaline-earth metal silicates, silica, alkali metal carbonates, alkaline-earth metal carbonates, alkali metal citrates and alkaline-earth metal citrates, alkali metal acetates, alkaline-earth metal acetates and combinations thereof; and wherein the organic solids are selected from the group consisting of poly(meth)acrylic, saccharides, dextrose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, fructose, cyclodextrins, cyclodextrin derivatives, polysaccharides, starch, starch derivatives, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, cellulose ethers, methyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, cross-linked cellulose derivatives and combinations thereof.
- 3. The multifunctional pellet aid according to claim 1, wherein the binders and organic solids are co-granulated.
- 4. The multifunctional pellet aid according to claim 1, wherein the binders, inorganic solids and organic solids are co-granulated.
- 5. The multifunctional pellet aid according to claim 1, wherein the binders are prepared from one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylic acid, (meth)acrylate esters, C1-C30 alkyl substituted acrylamides, vinyl sulfonate, acrylamido propane sulfonate; dimethyl amino propyl acrylamide, alkyl vinyl ethers, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, N-vinyl pyrollidone, allyl containing monomers, an aromatic vinyl compounds, a substituted aromatic vinyl compound, butadiene, acrylonitrile, ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing aceto acetoxy functional groups, vinyl esters of saturated carboxylic acids and combinations thereof.
- 6. The multifunctional pellet aid according to claim 1, wherein the binders are selected from the group consisting of one or either of:
i) a multiphase polymer having at least one inner phase polymer with a Tg in the range from −85 to +35 ° C. and at least one outer phase polymer with a Tg in the range from +40 to +160 ° C.; or ii) a multiphase polymer having a inner phase which comprises a polymer with a Tg in the range from −85 to +35 ° C. and outer phase with a carboxylic acid content 10 to 60% by weight of the multiphase polymer wherein the outer phase has a Tg in the range from −30 to >100 ° C.; or iii) a copolymer having a Tg in the range from −85 to +35 ° C. which is stabilized with polyvinyl alcohol.
- 7. The multifunctional pellet aid according to claim 6, wherein the multiphase polymer is prepared by emulsion polymerization.
- 8. A pellet composition comprising one or more active ingredients and one or more pellet aids, wherein the pellet aid comprises (i) 20 to 80% by weight of one or more binders, wherein at least one binder is an acrylic based solution polymers, suspension polymers or emulsion polymers having a Tg ranging from −20° C. to +95° C.; (ii) 0 to 40 % by weight of one or more inorganic solids; and (iii) 10 to 40% by weight of one or more organic solids; and wherein the pellet aid is present in the pellet an amount from 0.25 to 10% by weight and has a particle size ranging from 100 μm to 3000 μm.
- 9. A pellet composition according to claim 8, wherein the active ingredient is a material with activity as a pharmaceutical, an agrochemical, a water treatment agent, a water softening agent, a fabric softening agent, a laundry detergent, a hard surface cleaner, a surface polishing agent, a polish stripping material, a biocide, a stone washing agent or a drain pipe cleaner.
- 10. A process for preparing a multifunctional pellet aid which comprises the steps of: (a) premixing 0 to 40 % by weight of one or more inorganic solids and 10 to 40% by weight of one or more organic solids; (b) spraying 20 to 80% by weight of one or more emulsion polymers having a Tg ranging from −20° C. to +95° C. on to the premixed solids to achieve a particle size ranging from 100 μm to 3000 μm.
- 11. A process for preparing a multifunctional pellet aid which comprises the steps of: (a) preparing a slurry of 0 to 40 % by weight of one or more inorganic solids and 20 to 80% by weight of one or more emulsion polymers having a Tg ranging from −20° C. to +95° C.; (b) spraying the slurry on to 10 to 40% by weight of one or more organic solids to achieve a particle size ranging from 100 μm to 3000 μm.
- 12. The multifunctional pellet aid according to claims 10 or 11, wherein the preferred particle size of the granulated mixture of binders, inorganic solids and organic solids that constitutes the pellet aid ranges from 100 μm to 3000 μm.
- 13. The multifunctional pellet aid according to claim 12, wherein the particle size of the pellet aid granules exhibiting higher binding efficiency ranges from 200 μm to 800 μm.
- 14. The multifunctional pellet aid according to claim 13, wherein the particle size of the pellet aid granules exhibiting higher binding efficiency ranges from 200 μm to 600 μm.
- 15. A process for preparing a solid pellet having high mechanical strength, which can withstand storage and handling without fracturing, and which rapidly disintegrates upon contact with an aqueous system comprising the steps of: (a) mixing 90 to 99.75% by weight of a plurality of ingredients and 0.25 to 10% by weight of a multifunctional pellet aid, wherein the pellet aid comprises (i) 20 to 80% by weight of one or more binders, wherein at least one binder is an emulsion polymer having a Tg ranging from −20° C. to +95° C.; (ii) 0 to 40 % by weight of one or more inorganic solids; and (iii) 10 to 40% by weight of one or more organic solids, the particle size of pellet aid ranging from 100 μm to 3000 μm; (b) compacting the mixture of ingredients and pellet aid to form a pellet.
Parent Case Info
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/667,646, filed Sep. 22, 2000, which claims priority to U. S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/156,080, filed September 24, 1999.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60156080 |
Sep 1999 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09667646 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
Child |
09749196 |
Dec 2000 |
US |